Fast start carries Indians

October 14, 2006|FORREST MILLER Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- St. Joseph's packaged all of its offense in the first half, then saw little of the football in the second half Friday night at Jackson Field. Scoring on three of their first four possessions, the Indians wrapped up a 7-2 regular season with a 27-6 Northern Indiana Conference victory over Riley. The Indians finished 5-1 in the Northern Indiana Conference. Riley closes 3-6 overall and 1-5 in the league. Falling behind early has Riley coach Ron Metcalfe irritated. "We've got to decide early whether we want to play or not,'' said Metcalfe, who noted his team gave up scores to Clay and Washington in their first two possessions in the previous two games. "Elkhart Central (next Friday's Class 5-A sectional opponent) can put up points in a hurry. We need to get off to a better start,'' added Metcalfe. Friday the Indians needed only four plays to score -- a one-yard burst by Adam Arsenault. A 31-yard pass from Louie Ruszkowski to Wes Chamblee followed by a 19-yard run from Ray Winkler set up the score. A conversion pass failed. After Arsenault's interception, St. Joe moved 65 yards in seven plays to score again on Winkler's 14-yard run with 5:17 to go in the first quarter. The first of three Eric Schiffman's kicks made it 13-0. A wind-hindered Riley punt netted only one yard to set up the third St. Joe touchdown. Winkler, on his way to a 96-yard night on 13 carries, angled 13 yards to the end zone for a 20-0 lead. Tucker Florea recovered a fumble at the Riley 27, and four plays later Jordan Taylor rushed six yards to make it 27-0 only 20 seconds before halftime. "It was good to have Taylor back,'' said St. Joe coach Kevin Downey. The junior back had missed the last four games with a hamstring injury. "And it's good to have some momentum going into the sectional,'' added Downey, whose Indians take on New Prairie in a Class 3-A headliner next Friday at Mishawaka. "Our seniors know they'll have to play their best game of the season.'' Riley burned most of the third quarter with a 75-yard, 16-play drive capped by Blake Swick's 15-yard scoring run. The Indians got the ball for the first time in the second half with 3:28 left in the third period, then turned it back seven plays later on Swick's interception. John Basker had a fumble recovery for Riley. Neither team threatened in the fourth period. The game was played without yard markers, none on the sideline and none on the field. At Jackson Field Riley 0 0 6 0 -- 6 St. Joseph's 13 14 0 0 -- 27 SJ -- Adam Arsenault 1 run (pass failed). SJ -- Ray Winkler 14 run (Eric Schiffman kick). SJ -- Winkler 13 run (Schiffman kick). SJ -- Jordan Taylor 6 run (Schiffman kick). R -- Blake Swick 15 run (kick failed). Officials: Mike Havens (Highland) referee, Claude Holifeild (umpire) DeMotte, Jerry Jaycheck (back judge) Highland, Ken DeWiolf (line judge) Hammond, Rick Szany (linesman) Hammond. Riley St. Joe First downs 9 13 Yards rushing 134 207 Yards passing 73 57 Passing 5-12-1 4-8-1 Punting 4-16 2-23 Fumbles lost 1 1 Yards penalized 35 25